FTP FAQs
Q:
What is FTP?
A: FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.
This standard was developed many years ago so that files could be transferred
between different types of computers on the Internet.
As long as a program "speaks" FTP, it can send a copy of a file from one computer to another, receive files, and even rename and delete files on a remote computer (if the user has permission to do so).
Anonymous FTP was designed to allow users to copy files from remote computers without having an account already set up. Anonymous FTP only allows you to copy files. You cannot rename, delete, or otherwise change the originals.
Most software and large text files are still moved across the Internet
using FTP, although Web browsers hide it inside a graphical interface.
Q: How do I
use archived files such as ZIP, SIT, etc?
A: Nearly all software or text files
on the Internet are compressed into smaller sizes. Special programs use
a formula to take out extra spaces and duplicate characters in order to
shrink the file by as much as 80 or 90%. This saves a lot of time in transferring
files over the Internet.
These compressed files are called archives, and you can recognize them by the letters at the end of a file name.
Most archived files for DOS or Windows PCs use the extension "zip", as in "ws_ftp.zip", which would contain version 1.44 of the Eudora email program. PKZIP is the standard program for DOS PCs, while WinZIP is the standard program for Windows PCs.
StuffIt handles all types of Macintosh archives, and the files will usually end with "sit" or "cpt".
Such files will need to be uncompressed before they can be opened. Usually, the same program can be used to both compress and uncompress archived files.
In addition, some files are "self-extracting" archives. Once the file has been downloaded, just launch or run it like a regular program, and it will automatically uncompress itself. These will be denoted by an "exe" extension for PC files and an "sea" extension for Macintosh files.
TIP for PC users: Archives can contain many individual files. Before you uncompress a file, put it in an empty directory to keep from mixing 10 or 50 new files in with existing ones.
You can obtain a copy of WinZip, PKUNZIP, and UnStuffIt below:
Q: How do I create
a new directory using FTP?
A: Since there are several choices
for FTP clients, we will give a couple of answers:
- For clients such as Chameleon 4.6 FTP and WS_FTP, you will click on the MkDir button on the side of the remote host (typically, the right side).
- For clients such as CuteFTP, you want to click in the window for the remote host.
This will then prompt you for a directory name. Once you have typed in the directory name of your choice and hit return, your newly created directory should appear on the remote window side.
Then select Commands from the menu. Once you have selected Commands, you will want to click on Make New Dir.
Once prompted for the directory name, enter the name and press return. Your newly created directory should appear in the remote window side.
To create a directory using Fetch, please read the Fetch
FAQ.
Q: How do I upload
files using FTP?
A: To upload a file in a graphical
FTP client such as WS_FTP, CuteFTP, etc. you simply drag the file you wish
to upload from the local window to the remote window.
If you are uploading HTML files, you want to ensure that you are uploading
in ASCII format. Images (GIFs, JPGs, etc.), you will want to upload in
Binary format.
Q: What different
programs are available for me to use FTP?
A: There are several different choices
for FTP clients to choose from:
- CuteFTP
- WS_FTP
- FTP Icon Connection
32-bit Clients (Windows95/NT)